On January 18th, the 2025 Storm Trysail Club Annual Meeting brought members together to reflect on another remarkable year and set the course for the future. Held at Larchmont Yacht Club, the day began with a series of Committee Meetings that highlighted the dedication and innovation driving the club’s activities (full reports linked below). Each committee, from Safety and Seamanship to the Women's Committee, delivered inspiring reports filled with accomplishments and ambitious goals, reflecting the vibrant energy of the club's 1,169-strong membership.

A Full Agenda and a Thriving Club

The Annual Meeting, held in the Quarter Deck, drew over 100 members in person and 25 on Zoom. The Secretary and Treasurer’s reports confirmed the club’s strong standing in terms of membership growth and financial health, reassuring members that the club is well-positioned to continue its leadership in offshore sailing and beyond. Outgoing Commodore Ray Redniss reflected on the club’s many accomplishments during his tenure, sharing his pride and gratitude for the honor of serving as Commodore.

As part of the official changing of the Flag, Andrew Weiss was welcomed as the new Commodore. Weiss expressed his excitement about taking on the role and his dedication to advancing the club’s mission. Other leadership transitions included Ty Anderson stepping into the role of Vice Commodore, Matt Gallagher taking over as Rear Commodore, Clarke Smith succeeding Rick Royce as Fleet Captain after six years, and Andree Isbrandtsen Pruett succeeding Bud Heerde as Treasurer after his many years of service.

Celebrating Excellence: Annual Awards

The meeting also honored members and their achievements with the club's annual awards. Among the highlights:

• Monte-Sano Trophy: Awarded to Andrew Berdon and his boat, Summer Storm, for an exceptional year of local, regional, and national success that brought honor to the club. Though unable to attend, Berdon’s crew mate Adam Loory read his heartfelt remarks, where Berdon expressed the profound honor of receiving the award named after figures he admired while growing up on Long Island Sound.
• Stimpson Trophy: Presented to Ed Cesare for excellence in navigation, onboard Hound, this past season a testament to his skill and dedication to the craft.
• Torrey Trophy:  The Torrey is awarded annually to the person, who, in the opinion of the Governing Committee, has rendered “Outstanding Service: to the Storm Trysail Club. And with emotions amongst all it was awarded posthumously to John Osmond and accepted by his wife, Ellyn, a treasure among the club herself who said “John collected a lot of friends here, and he cherished you all.”
• Seamanship Bell: Awarded to Cole Brauer by the Storm Trysail Foundation for her remarkable blue water passage aboard Morning Light.
• Hugh Kilmer Trophy: Also presented to Brauer, this award recognized her historic achievement as the first American woman to complete a solo, nonstop circumnavigation earlier this year.

Brauer, joining via Zoom from 1,000 miles southeast of Cape Town, captivated the audience with her stories and plans for the future. Sailing at 15 knots in the Southern Ocean, she fielded questions from members, sharing her experiences and her intent to pass Morning Light to its next steward upon her arrival in Australia.

Bermuda Race Trophies

• The Boomerang Trophy for the quickest elapsed time by an STC Member yacht in the St. David’s Division of the Bermuda Race was given to Dan Litchfield with Hound
• The William Snaith Memorial Trophy for recorded designer of the yacht which finishes first on corrected time in the Newport-Bermuda St. David’s Division.
  • McCurdy & Rhodes & Kaufman (Sheila McCurdy accepted)
• The Mertz Trophy for the best performance by an STC Member in the Bermuda Race Barrett Holby - Carina

A Meeting to Remember

The 2025 Annual Meeting concluded with high praise for the event, thanks to the tireless efforts of Storm Trysail Club volunteers and the staff of the Larchmont Yacht Club. The reports, awards, and heartfelt moments reinforced the club’s thriving community and the enduring spirit of ocean sailing.

Explore More

Members can access the full committee reports and award photos through the links below. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this memorable celebration of our shared passion and commitment to excellence in sailing. Here’s to another incredible year ahead for the Storm Trysail Club!

Committee Reports:

• Rules Committee
• Safety and Seamanship Committee
• Womens
• Sponsorship and Communications
• Fleet and Station Captains
• Membership
• Nominating Committee
• Storm Trysail Foundaiton